Punch press



Allg- 4, 1953 H. E. MAGNUsoN ET AL 2,647,552

PUNCH RRESS Filed Jan. 25, 1951 A 3 Sheets'Sheet l [aww/taff H10/QW Mn/w/a/V am Wm 75 J. MORE/V,

A11g- 4, 1953 H. E. MAGNUSON ET AL 2,647,552

PUNCH RRESS Filed Jan. 25, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug- 4, 1953 H. E. MAGNusoN ETAL 2,647,552

PUNCH RRESS Filed Jan. 25, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIELC'I. nah @JP/M #4Q/@y 15 Maa/V05 /y m MQ 7E@ J. MOP/ FAL Patented Aug. 4, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUNCH PRESS Harry E. Magnuson, Worcester, and Walter J.

Meren, Auburn, Mass. Application January 2 5, 1 951, Serial No.207,811 a 1 y The present invention relates to punch presses and more particularlyvto a punch press for forming U-bolts from straight rods. In the making of such bolts frequent accidents occur unlessV quite extensive safety precautions are taken and safety guards provided on the machines. A punch press is generally a fast action machine which, in many cases, is hand fed. In attempting to hand feed such machines and at' the same time utilize the speed the machine is capable of without safety guards, iingers and hands may be amputated.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a punch press which may be operated at the full capacity of its speed in a safe manner.

It is a further object of this invention to pron vide a punch press having a semi-automatic feed mechanism whereby the operation ofV the punch press and the feeding thereof is carried on simultaneously in a safe and speedy manner.

These and other objects will become more apparent after referring to the following speciication and attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, showing the punch press embodying our invention;

Figure 2 isa plan view taken above the punch press table;

' Figure 3 is a view taken on the line III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line V-V of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on the line VIVI of Figure 1; and

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on the line VTI-VII of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 2 indicates the table of a punch press for forming U-bolts fromstraight rods W. A magazine 4 having two ch'annelled sides 6 is fastened to the table 2 by means of brackets and cap screws Iii. The magazine 4 is inclined toward the table 2 and is adapted to support a' plurality of straight rods W. The lower end of the magazine is provided with a vertical discharge chute I2. A retaining spring I4 is attached to one side t of the magazine and extends therefrom over the workpieces W in the magazine for thc purpose of retaining them therein in proper order. An elongated track plate I5 is disposed horizontally beneath the magazine with its forward end bolted to the table A C--shaped carriage I8 is slidably mounted on the edges of the track plate I6 for longitudinal movement thereon. The open part of the -C -shaped carriage faces upwardly of the track plate I6.

The track plate IIS is provided with a longitudinal slot Il through which extends a stop member I9 which is carried by and projects upwardly from the bottom of the carriage I8. Thus the horizontal movement of the carriage Itis limited 15 claims.l (ci. 15s-4s) by the ends f the' not n. The forward end er the kcarriage IB has bolted thereon a pair of spaced projecting arms 2@ which extend toward the punch press. Each of the arms 20 is provided with a groove 22 adapted to receive and carry a workpiece W from the discharge chute i2. The

underside of the carriage I8 isprovided with two spaced downwardly extending lugs 24. A bell crank lever 26 having a vertical leg 28 and a horizontal leg 30 is disposedbeneath the plate It with the top end of the leg 28 tted loosely between* the lugs 24.` The bell crank lever 26 is keyed to a shaft 32 which is rotatably 4supported in two spaced bearings 34. The free end of horizontal leg 3i] is pivotally connected to a downwardly eX- tending connecting rod 36 whichis connected to a foot pedal 38. A spring 40 which is anchored at one end 42 to the punchpress and at its other` end 44 to the foot pedal acts to return the foot pedal to normal position after it has beendepressed., When the foot pedal is depressed, the motion isv transmitted by means of the connecting rod 36 and bell crank lever 25 to the carriage I8 to thereby cause horizontal motion thereof toward the` punch press table 2.

Two aligned grooved rolls 46 are mounted one on each of two spaced apart blocks 48 which areI slidable toward and away from each other on the table 2 as will be morefully explained hereinafter. The punch press is provided with the usual pressram head v50. A punch 52 is attached to andextends downwardly from the press ram 50 to a point normally above and in between the rolls 46. Two stripping rods 54 are fastened to and extend downwar-dly from a bracketl 55 through'the ram head 5D adjacent the punch 52. Pivotally mounted at the rear of thetable 21s a pair of spaced fingers 56. The pivoted ends 58 of the' lingers, 5 6 are shaped in the form of a cam while the free ends E0 are formed in a shape of an L and are disposed astride the'rolls 46 which are adapted to receive a rod W. A bar G2 which is attached at one end to one of the ngers 56 at a point immediately adjacent the cam end 58, extends therefrom to a point on the outer portion ofthe 4cam end 53 oftheother inger. Ihus the movement of the lingers is synchronized so that the movement of one will cause movement of the other. A tension spring S4 which has one end anchored to the table 2 and its other end connected to one of the cam ends 58 returns the other is brought about by means of a pair of elongated cams It which are attached to the press ram 5D and depend therefrom in vertical planes adjacent the slide blocks 48. A roll or cam follower 'l2 is mounted on each of the blocks 48. Bolt 14 is provided for adjusting the position of elongated cam 66 and bolts 76 are `provided for adjusting the position of cams l0.

A connecting rod 8B is attached at one end to the foot pedal 33 and extends upwardly therefrom to the actuating mechanism (not shown) for operating the press ram 50. Thus the punch 52 may be moved as soon as possible after a rod W is in position for bending.

In operation, the machine operator places a plurality of straight rods W in the magazine 4. The spring retainer I4 holds the rods in single row position in the magazine and allows them to move forward and drop into the discharge chute I2. Initially the carriage I8 is positioned so that the arms 20 extend forward to position the grooves 22 under the discharge chute l2. After a rod W is dropped into the groove, the foot pedal 33 is depressed, actuating the bell crank lever 25, thus moving the carriage I8 forward and causing the arms 20 to enter the punch press astride the rolls 46. The slots Il and stop member I9 limit the movement of the carriage I8 so that the arms support the rod W above the rolls 46 at the limit of their forward movement. Thus the rod W is positioned under the punch 52 and over the rolls 46. At the same time, the foot pedal 38 through the connecting rod 80 actuates the punchA press to start the press ram downwardly. The iingers 56, actuated by the cam 66, centralize the rod `W under the punch 52. The bar 62 and the spring B4 function to return the centering fingers 56 to original position after the `punching operation. During the downward stroke of the punch 5.2 the rod W is pushed through the rolls 45 forming a U- shaped bolt. As a `iinal action the cams 1-0 exert pressure on the rolls 12 to move the blocks 48 together to give the U-shaped `bolt its proper formation by ovecoming any spring back due to tension. If the U-bolt sticks to the punch the stripper rods 54 remove the iin'ished U-bolt from the punch 52 when the ram 50 .moves upwardly to the position shown :in .Figure 3. 'Ihe tension spring 4l) returns the `foot pedal 38 to its original position after the operation is completed and the carrying arms 20 remain .i-.n position astride the rolls 46 until pressure is removed from the foot pedal 38 vand the tension spring 40 causes the foot pedal 38 to move back toits original position and thereby move the carriage -IB back to its initial position.

While we have shown and described one specific embodiment of our invention, it will -be understood that this embodiment is merely 4for the purpose of illustration and description and that various other for-ms may be devised within the scope of our invention, as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

V1. A punch press for forming U-shaped ar-ticles from `straight rods vcomprising a pair of spaced grooved guide rolls, a reciprocating press ram .positioned above said spaced rolls, Aa punch attached to said press ram and normally ,positioned above and lbetween said spaced rolls, means for -supporting a straight yrod above vsaid spaced rolls, means for centering a straight rod supported Yabove said spaced yrolls in the path of said punch, said punch press ram being movable to drive said punch downwardly to bend said straight rod into a U-shape between said spaced rolls, an inclined magazine disposed adjacent said punch press with its lower end adjacent said spaced rolls, said magazine being adapted to contain a plurality of straight rods, a vertical discharge chute in the lower end of said magazine, an elongated pusher rack slidably disposed horizontally beneath said magazine, said rod supporting means including a pair of spaced arms projecting from the forward end of said pusher rack, said projecting arms having grooves in the ends thereof for receiving a rod from said discharge chute, and means for moving said rack toward said punch press to position said spaced arms astride said pair of spaced rolls and thereby support said rod in the path of said punch.

2. A punch press for forming U-shaped articles from straight rods comprising a pair of spaced grooved guide rolls, a reciprocating press ram positioned above said spaced rolls, a punch attached to said press ram and normally positioned above and between said spaced rolls, means for supporting a straight rod above said spaced rolls, means for centering a straight rod supported above said spaced rolls in the path of said punch, said punch press ram being movable to drive said punch downwardly to bend said straight rod into a U-shape between said spaced rolls, an inclined magazine disposed adjacent said punch press with its lower end adjacent said spaced rolls, said magazine being adapted to contain a plurality of straight rods, spring means attached to said magazine for retaining said straight rods therein, a vertical discharge chute in the lower end of said magazine, an elongated track plate disposed horizontally below said magazine with the forward end thereof attached to said punch press adjacent said spaced. rolls, a C-shaped carriage slidably mounted around Ythe Iside edges of said track plate for movement toward and away from said punch press, said rod supporting `means including a pair of spaced arms attached to and extending away from said carriage in the vdirection of said punch press, a pair of grooves in the forward end of said arms for receiving a straight rod from said discharge chute, and means for moving said carriage toward said punch press to position said spaced arms astride said pair of spaced rolls and thereby support said rod in the path of said punch.

3. A punch press as defined in claim Si characterized by said carriage moving means including a pair of spaced lugs depending from the underside of said carriage, a bell crank lever having a vertical and horizontal leg disposed below said carriage with the free end of its vertical leg positioned loosely between said lugs, a foot pedal disposed below said bell crank, a connecting rod attached to and extending upwardly from said foot pedal to a pivotal connection with the horizontal leg of the bell crank, and a spring anchored at one end and having its other end attached to said foot pedal for returning the same to normal position after being depressed.

4. A punch press as defined in claim 3 in which the foot pedal has a connection for actuating said ram to move said punch downwardly when the foot pedal is depressed.

5. A punch press as defined in claim 3 -characterized by said elongated track having an axially aligned slot therein of predetermined distance along the path of said carriage, a stop member projecting upwardly from' the bottom of said carriage through said slot for limiting the movement of said carriage toward and away from said punch press.` y

6. A punch press for forming U-shaped articles from straight rods comprising a pair of spaced grooved guide rolls, a reciprocating press rain positioned above said spaced rolls, a punch attached to said press ram and normally positioned above and between said spaced rolls, means for supporting a straight rod above said spaced rolls, means for centering said straight rod supported above said spaced supports in the path of said punch, said centering means including a pair of iingers pivotally mounted at one end and disposed with their free ends astride said spaced rolls, the pivoted end of each iinger being shaped in the form of a cam, a bar attached to and extending between said cam ends for synchronizing the movement of said fingers, spring means attached to one of said fingers for urging said fingers into normal position, an elongated cam attached to said press ram and depending therefrom in a vertical plane adjacent one of said ngers whereby the downward movement of said press ram causes said elongated cam to move said fingers toward each other, adjustablemeans for limiting the movement of said ngers, said punch press ram being movable to drive said punch downwardly to bend said straight rod into a U-shape between said spaced rolls, an inclined magazine disposed adjacent said punch press with its lower end adjacent said spaced rolls, said magazine being adapted to contain a plurality of straight rods, a vertical discharge chute in the lower end of said magazine, an elongated pusher rack slidably disposed horizontally beneath said magazine, said rod supporting means including a pair of spaced arms projecting from the forward end of said pusher rack, said projecting arms having grooves in the ends thereof for receiving a rod from said discharge chute, and means for moving said rack toward said punch press to position said spaced arms astride said pair of spaced rolls and thereby support said rod in the path of said punch.

'7. A punch press for forming U -shaped articles from straight rods comprising a pair of spaced grooved guide rolls, a reciprocating press ram positioned above said spaced rolls, a punch attached to said press ram and normally positioned above and between said spaced rolls, means for supporting a straight rod above said spaced rolls, means for centering said straight rod supported above said spaced rolls in the path of said punch,

said centering means including a pair of ngersv pivotally mounted at one end and disposed with their free ends astride said spaced rolls, the pivoted end oi each nger being shaped in the form oi a cam, a bar attached to and extending between said cam ends for synchronizing the movement of said fingers, spring means attached to one of said fingers for urging said lingers into normal position,' an elongated cam attached to said press ram and depending therefrom in a vertical plane adjacent one of said fingers whereby the downward movement of said press rram causes said elongated cam to move said fingers toward each other, and adjustable means for limiting the movement of said fingers, said punch press ram being movable to drive said punch downwardly to bend said straight rod into a U-shape between said spaced rolls, an inclined magazine disposed adjacent said punch press with its lower end adjacent said spaced rolls, said magazine being adapted to contain a 6. plurality of straight rods, spring means attached to said magazine for retaining said straight rods therein, a vertical discharge chute in the lower end of said magazine, an elongated track plate disposed horizontally below said magazine with the forward end thereof attached to said punch press adjacent said spaced rolls` a C-shaped carriage slidably mounted around the side edges of said track plate for movement toward and away from said punch press, said rod supporting means including a pair of spaced arms attached to and extending away from said carriage in the direction of said punch press, a pair of grooves in the forward end of said arms for receiving a straight rod from said discharge chute, and means for moving said carriage toward said punch press to position said spaced arms astride said pair ofl spaced rolls and thereby support said rod in the path of said punch.

8.A punch press as defined in claim '7 characterized by said carriage moving means including a pair of spaced lugs depending from the underside of said carriage, a bell crank lever having a vertical and horizontal leg disposed below said carriage with the free end of its vertical leg positioned loosely between said lugs, a foot pedal disposed below said bell crank, a connecting rod attached to and extending upwardly from said foot pedal to a pivotal connection with the horizontal leg of the bell crank, and a spring anchored at one end and attached to said foot pedal by its other end for returning the same to normal position after being depressed.

9. A punch press as defined in claim 8 in which the foot pedal has a connection for actuating Said ram to move said punch downwardly when the foot pedal is depressed. f

l0. A punch press as defined in claim 8 chai`- acterized by said elongated track having an axially aligned slot therein of predetermined distance along the path of said carriage, a stop member projecting upwardly from the bottom of said carriage through said slot for limiting the movement of said carriage toward and away from said punch press.

1l. A punch press for forming U-shaped articles from straight rods comprising a pair o1 spaced grooved guide rolls, a reciprocating press ram positioned above said spaced rolls, a punch attached to said press ram and normally positioned above and between said spaced rolls, means for supporting a straight rod above said spaced rolls, means for centering said straight rod supported above said spaced rolls in the path of said punch, said centering means including a pair of fingers pivotally mounted at one end and disposed with their free ends astride said spaced rolls, the pivoted end of each finger being shaped in the form of a cam, a bar attached to and extending between said cam ends for synchronizing the movement of said ingers, spring means attached to one of said fingers for urging said iingers into normal position, an elongated cam attached to said press rain and depending therefrom in a vertical plane adjacent one of said iingers whereby the downward movement of said press ram causes said elongated cam to move said fingers toward each other, and adjustable means for limiting the movement of said nngers,

Asaid punch press ram being movable to drive said punch downwardly to bend said straight rod into a U-shape between said spaced rolls.

12. A punch press for forming U-shaped articles from straight rods comprising a pai-r of spaced grooved guide rolls, a reciprocating press ram positioned above said .spaced rolls, a punch attached to said press ram and, normally positioned above and between 'said spaced rolls, means for supporting a straight rod above said spaced rolls, means for 'centering said straight rod supported above said spaced rolls in the path of said punch, said centering means including a pair of pivoted levers arranged one on the outside-of each of said rolls, one end of each of said levers extending to a point adjacent one of said rolls, a bar attached to and extending between said levers adjacent the pivots thereof, one on one side of one pivot and the other on the other side of the other pivot, resilient means attached to one oi levers for urging said levers into normal position, an elongated cam attached to said press ram and depending therefrom in a vertical plane adjacent one of said levers whereby the downward movement of said press ram causes said elongated cam to move said levers toward each other, said punch press being .movable to drive said punch downwardly to bend said straight rod into a U-shape between said spaced rolls.

A punch press for forming U -shaped articles from straight rods comprising a pair of spaced grooved guide rolls, a pair of spaced apart blocks slidable toward and away from each other, one of said rolls being mounted on each of said blocks, a reciprocating press ram positioned Aabove said spaced rolls, a punch attached to said press ram and normally positioned above and between said spaced rolls, a pair of cams mounted on said ram one adjacent the outer end of each of said blocks, means for supporting a straight rod above said spaced rolls, means for centering said straight rod supported above said spaced rolls in the path of said punch, said centering means including a pair or pivoted levers arranged one on the outside oi each of said rolls, one end of each of said levers extending to a point adjacent one of said rolls, a bar attached to and extending between said levers adjacent 'the pivots thereof, one on one side oi one pivot and the other on the other side of the other pivot, resilient means attached to one oi said levers for urging said levers into normal position, an elongated cam attached to said press rain and depending therefrom in a vertical plane adjacent one of said levers whereby the downward movement of said press ram causes said elongated cam to move said levers toward each. other, said punch press ram being movable to drive said lpunch downwardly to vbend said straight rod into a U-shape between said spaced. rolls, said pair of cams forcing said blocks inwardly at the end oi rain travel to bend the legs of said Li -shaped article toward each other.

ll. A punch press for forming U-shaped articles from straight rods comprising a pair oi spaced grooved guide rolls, a pair of spaced apart blocks slidable toward and away from each other, one of said rolls being mounted on each of said blocks, a reciprocating press ram positioned above said spaced rolls, a punch attached to said press ram and normally positioned above and between said spaced rolls, a pair of cams mounted on said ram one adjacent the outer end of each of said blocks, means for supporting a straight rod above said spaced rolls, said punch press ram being movable to drive said punch downwardly to bend said str-aight rod into a U-shape between said spaced rolls, said pair of cams forcing said blocks inwardly at the end of ram travel to bend the legs of said U-shaped article toward each other, an

inclined magazine disposed adjacent said punch press with its lower end adjacent said spoed rolls, said magazine being adapted to contain a plurality of straight rods, a vertical discharge chute in the lower end of said magazine, an elon gated pusher rack slidably disposed horizontally beneath said magazine, said rod supporting means including a pair of spaced arms projecting from the forward end of sa-id pusher rack, said projecting arms having grooves in the ends thereof for yreceiving a rod from said `discharge chute, and means for moving said rmk toward said punch press to position said spaced arms astride said pair ci spaced rolls and thereby .support said rod .in the path of said punch,

l5. YA punch press for forming Ll-shapcd articlesfromstraight rods comprising a of spaced grooved guide rolls, a pair of spaced apart blocks slidable toward and away from each other, one of said rolls being mounted on each of said blooms, a reciprocating press ram vpositioned above said spaced rolls, a punch attached to said press rani and normally positioned above and between said spaced rolls, .a pair of cams mounted on said rain one adjacent the outer end of each ci said blocks, means for supporting a straight rod above said spaced rolls, means for centering said straight rod supported above said spaced rolls in the path of said punch, said centering means including a pair ci' pivot-ed levers arranged one on the outside of each of said rolls, one end of each oi said levers extending to a `point adjacent one of said rolls, a bar attached to and extending between said levers adjacent the ,pivots thereof, one on one side of one pivot and the other on the other side of the other pivot, resilient means attached to one of said levers for urging said levers into normal position, an elongated cam attached to said press ram and depending therefrom in a vertical plane adjacent one of said levers whereby the downward movement or said press ram causes said elongated cam to move said levers toward each other, said lpunch press ram lbeing' movable to drive said punch downwardly to bend said straight rod into a 'il-shape between said spaced rolls, said pair of cams forcing said blocks inwardly at the end of ram travel to bend the legs of said iJ-shaped article toward each other, an inclined magazine disposed adjacent 'said punch press with its lower end adjacent said spaced rolls, said magazine being adapted to contain a plurality of straight rods, a vertical discharge chute in the lower of said magasine, an elongated pusher rack slidably disposed horizontally beneath said magazine, rod supporting means including a pair of spaced arms projecting from the forward end of said pusher rack, said projecting arms having grooves in the ends thereinr for receiving a rod fron?L said discharge chute, and means for moving said raclt toward said punch press to position said spaced arms astrid-e said pair vof spaced rolls and thereby support said rod. in the path of said punch.

HARRY E. M'AGNUSON. WALTER J. MOREN.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 270,362 Alpress Jan. 9, 1883 494,536 Vanstone Mar. 28, i893 1,488,850 Van Orman Apr. l, i924 1,966,472 Way July 17 1934 2,286,255 Brooks e June 16, i942 

